After more than a year of political infighting, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, legislative Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves and Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams Monday brokered a pact that will begin paying Nassau's property owners the tax refunds they've been entitled to for years.

The deal became real after legislative Democrats, for the first time since Mangano released his 2011 budget proposal, provided enough votes for the supermajority necessary to authorize borrowing for successful tax assessment challenges.

Because of cash-flow problems and political squabbling, Nassau ended up under court order to refund tens of thousands of homeowners.

Had no deal been reached, a judge could have frozen county bank accounts.

Even with the deal, however, thousands of property owners will have to wait for refunds.

Democrats didn't get all they wanted, which would have included a guarantee from Mangano that funding for mental health, drug and alcohol, and children's services would be restored in this and future years.

Mangano didn't get all that he wanted -- including more than $160 million in borrowing -- either.